12-3-12

NOT GOING ANYWHERE

Everybody’s favorite head football coach James Franklin is set to stick around for a while longer. See page 6 for details.

BOSLEY JARRETT / THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER

MONDAY DECEMBER 3, 2012

VOL. 124, ISS. 55

WWW.INSIDEVANDY.COM

Vanderbilt football accepted a bid on Sunday night to the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, right across the river at LP Field. Since it’s so close, in the words of Vice Chancellor David Williams ...

‘WE GOTTA SELL THAT SUCKA OUT’ CHRIS HONIBALL / THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER

FAST FACTS FRANKLIN AMERICAN MORTGAGE CO. MUSIC CITY BOWL When: Dec. 31, 11 a.m. CT Where: Nashville, Tenn.

Longevity: 1998-present LP Field capacity: 69,143 Former Names: Music City Bowl (1998-2001) Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl (2002, 2008-2009) Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl presented by Bridgestone (2003-2007) Matchup: ACC vs.

SEC 2011 matchup: Mississippi State vs.

Wake Forest (MSU 23-17) 2012 matchup: Vanderbilt vs. North Carolina State

By ERIC SINGLE Editor-in-chief --------------------

Vanderbilt fans packed out the Student Life Center ballroom on Sunday night to celebrate the football team that had rewarded them with an 8-4 regular season record.

To their delight, and thanks to the sometimes maddening machinations of the bowl selection system, that team isn’t going anywhere.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS Vanderbilt will spend New Year’s Eve in Nashville after accepting an invitation to the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl.

The game kicks off from LP Field, home of the Tennessee Titans, at 11 a.m. on Dec. 31 and will be televised nationally on ESPN. The Music City Bowl’s Twitter account made the official announcement just before 5 p.m. on Sunday, leaving the school that would represent the Atlantic Coast Conference unknown until North Carolina State’s name was called nearly three hours later. The Wolfpack fired head coach Tom O’Brien last weekend after finishing the season with a 7-5 record but did hand ACC champion Florida State its only loss of the season back in October.

Vanderbilt’s name had been connected with the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl, Chick-Fil-A Bowl and BBVA Compass Bowl in the leadup to Saturday’s conference championship games. Ultimately, the Commodores were tabbed to stay home for the holidays as those

Recycle your butts Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. and TerraCycle, a leading organization that develops solutions for hard-torecycle materials, have partnered in a launch of the Cigarette Waste Brigade, the first cigarette butt recycling program in the United States.

The Cigarette Waste Brigade aims to transform public spaces across the country by providing an incentive to collect and recycle cigarette waste. Those who are interested in participating in the initiative can register with TerraCycle.

How does it work?

Once collectors have registered, they can bag cigarette butts in plastic bags — which will also be recycled — print out prepaid UPS shipping labels, and ship their collections at no cost.

A study conducted by Keep America Beautiful in 2009 showed that 38 percent of U.S. roadway litters comes from cigarette waste. Additionally, according to Ocean Conservancy, the highest percentage of items recovered on International Coastal Cleanup Day are cigarette filters.

For every 1,000 butts collected through the brigade, a $1 donation will be made to Keep America Beautiful.

— Tyler Bishop, news manager

of the game’s tourism implications.

“The ACC allotment for this game is 12,000,” Franklin said. “Our allotment is the (STILL) NASHVILLE’S TEAM capacity of that stadium, it seats 69,143.

“What a better opportunity to play in the I wasn’t fortunate enough to go to a great Music City Bowl and show the world that we institution like Vanderbilt, but if my math is are Nashville’s team,” said head coach James correct, that means our allotment is 57,143.

Franklin, fresh from a press conference anAnd that is a realistic expectation.” nouncing his new contract extension with the “The minute after we beat whoever the ACC university. Franklin fought sends home to us, we’re goback his emotions as he “We get to end where we ing to start on continuing recounted the progress the our progress of improving started, that’s something that’s program has made in two and renovating our facilikind of a legacy, like we did years to swells of cheering ties,” said Vice Chancellor from the lively crowd. the older guys proud by being of Athletics David Williams.

“The seniors who were able to get back to the “I want to make sure that here for the last Music you understand how imMusic City.”

City Bowl, we’re excited,” portant it is for you all not said linebacker Archibald -------------------only to be here, but to be at ARCHIBALD BARNES, Barnes. “We get to end the bowl game. We have to Vanderbilt linebacker and senior where we started, that’s sell that sucka out.” something that’s kind of a legacy, like we did the older guys proud by NO DISAPPOINTMENT FROM PLAYERS being able to get back to the Music City. We’re Scattered throughout the ballroom, Vanderhonored to play in Nashville. We love it here, bilt players echoed their coach’s enthusiasm and that’s why we’re here.” for a game that came as a minor disappointFILL ‘ER UP ment to some fans hoping for a more prestiSchool officials had pressed fans to pregious matchup. order bowl tickets over the past three weeks, “I hear it’s an 11 a.m. game,” said redshirt keeping in mind that attendance and fan senior defensive tackle Rob Lohr. “It’s going to support were huge factors in the decisionbe a party.” making process for bowl representatives. With “I think it makes it special to Nashville the game being played just five miles from because the home team’s going to be playing campus, the university did everything it could right in that bowl,” said safety Kenny Ladler. to get out ahead of anxieties that a local team’s “A lot of people were wanting to travel, but I inclusion would hinder the economic impact feel like having that bowl right here is going to

bids went to Mississippi State, LSU and Ole Miss, respectively.

Jam out for the Grammy’s The first ever “Grammy Nomination Concert” will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 5 just minutes from the Vanderbilt campus at the Bridgestone Arena. The concert will be cohosted by Taylor Swift and LL Cool J and aired live on CBS. The decision to change the event from the traditional press conference to a live concert came from Ken Ehrlich, the executive producer of the Grammy Awards, and Recording Academy president Neil Portnow. Ehrlich said that by 2008 they knew the ceremony was ready for a change.

“It was my feeling, and Neil shared that feeling, that the announcement of the Grammys was an event on its own,” Ehrlich said in an interview with the Tennessean last week.

“And it deserved more than just 60 media people in a room with some cameras.”

Vanderbilt students and other Nashville residents between the ages of 18 and 35 were given the opportunity to attend and stand on the floor in front of the stage at the concert.

—Tyler Bishop, news manager

make a real impact in the community.”

Ladler, who came late to the celebration from a steel drum concert for class, needed no briefing on Franklin’s contract extension — the head coach had reassured his players he was staying in Nashville a few weeks ago.

“I think you can tell, from the way he’s been here from day one, that he wants to build this program into something special like no other college has,” Ladler said. “He showed us from day one that he’s here for us, he loves us, he’s committed to it.”

MIXED REACTIONS FROM FANS The current and former students in attendance shared mixed reactions to the team’s postseason destination.

“As a fan, it would’ve been fun to travel somewhere, but at this point, the most important thing is the program, and I think just going to a bowl game, period, is what matters for the program, so I’m content with where we are,” said Class of 2011 graduate Drew Hauser.

“I think it makes it a lot more likely (that students will travel to the game), that it’s in Nashville,” said Vanderbilt senior David Schuman. “The city of Nashville, who knows whether they would even travel all the way to Florida or wherever else we would go. So you know that we’re going to have a good showing at the Titans’ stadium.”

“For me, the most important thing is the Franklin extension more than where we’re going this year,” said Class of 2012 graduate Prithvi Muddana. “I feel like if we lock that up, we have future destinations to look forward to.”

NORTH KOREANS FIND HISTORIC UNICORN LAIR The North Korean Central News Agency reported on Friday that archeologists have confirmed the lair of a unicorn that was ridden by a legendary ancient Korean king.

According to the History Institute of the DPRK Academy of Social Sciences, the lair is just next to the Yongmyong Temple in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang. The archeologists cited ancient history books and carvings on a rock outside the temple as proof of their claims.

This is not the first time the North Korean state news agency has made outlandish claims. They’ve previously reported that former leader Kim Jong Il made 11 hole-in-ones in a single round of golf and invented the hamburger.

This particular piece of propaganda is believed to be an attempt to assert North Korean supremacy over South Korea by claiming to be the seat of the historical king.

— Sam McBride, news manager ALLEN J. SCHABEN/LOS ANGELES TIMES/MCT

2

THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER u WWW.INSIDEVANDY.COM

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2012

campus

QUOTE OF THE DAY “We make tradeoffs all the time between safety and convenience, and this seems like a reasonable one.”

ERIC STUCKEY, FRANKLIN CITY ADMINISTRATOR

Contributor in trouble

By JENNA WENGLER News staff reporter --------------------

PLAN YOUR WEEK

ALL WEEK Sarratt Holiday Arts Festival Sarratt Student Center Gallery 11a.m.-7 p.m

Handmade items from some of the best Tennessee artists, including jewelry, pottery, book arts, ornaments and more, will be featured at the 22nd annual Sarratt Holiday Arts Festival.

MONDAY RA Information Session Lewis Reading Room 8-9 p.m.

The fourth of seven information sessions available for students interested in applying to be a resident advisor. All students who wish to apply must attend one of the seven sessions. The last meeting of this semester will take place Wednesday in Buttrick 202 from 5-6 p.m.

Mel007: Melodores Winter Concert Sarratt Cinema 8 p.m.

Tickets are $8 at the door. Students dressed in formal attire will receive a discounted rate of $7. A second showing of the concert will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 4 at the same time.

WEDNESDAY Give a Dam

Schulman Center 5-7 p.m.

A dinner meeting aimed at raising awareness and money for the construction of a new dam in Marsabit, Kenya to provide a water supply for over three hundred people in Northern Kenya. The dinner will feature authentic African cuisine and performances from local Nashville musical groups.

THURSDAY Carols and Candlelight Benton Chapel 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Various religious organizations on campus are coming together to sing holiday carols and hymns at Benton Chapel.

The night will conclude with a candle-lighting service.

Dodecophonics Winter concert Sarratt Cinema 7:30 p.m.

Tickets can be bought on the wall starting Monday, Dec. 3, at the Sarratt box office, or before the show for $5. Featured songs will include “Roses,” “Keep me in Mind” and a Will Smith medley.

Stressed yet?

Stay tuned to Thursday’s stressthemed issue of The Hustler. The issue will contain articles dealing with a number of issues, including: • The use of prescription drugs such as Adderall to help with studying • Cheating during tests • How to cram • How to stay healthy during finals • And so much more

vanderbilthustler STAFF ERIC SINGLE — EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ANDRÉ ROUILLARD — OPINION EDITOR JACKSON MARTIN — SPORTS EDITOR KELLY HALOM — LIFE EDITOR SAM McBRIDE — NEWS MANAGER TYLER BISHOP — NEWS MANAGER KRISTEN WEBB — ART DIRECTOR DIANA ZHU — ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR ZACH BERKOWITZ — DESIGNER MATT MILLER — DESIGNER AUGIE PHILLIPS — DESIGNER ADRIANA SALINAS — DESIGNER JENNA WENGLER — DESIGNER MICHAEL ZUCH — DESIGNER ANGELICA LASALA — CHIEF COPY EDITOR PRIYANKA ARIBINDI — COPY EDITOR SAARA ASIKAINEN — COPY EDITOR ALEX DAI — COPY EDITOR MADDIE HUGHES — COPY EDITOR ANNE STEWART LYNDE— COPY EDITOR BRITTANY MATTHEWS — COPY EDITOR SOPHIE TO — COPY EDITOR EMILY TORRES — COPY EDITOR CHRIS HONIBALL — THE MAGIC MAN MURPHY BYRNE — PHOTO EDITOR KEVIN BARNETT — LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER NELSON HUA — LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER TINA TIAN — LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

Lawmakers in Franklin, a southern suburb of Nashville, have proposed a law that could change the lives of the homeless in their city.

The proposed law would ban anyone in Franklin from selling anything to a person in a car or from receiving money from a person in a car.

Currently, many homeless people use the streets of Franklin to sell The Contributor, Nashville’s twice-monthly street newspaper. Many vendors of The Contributor in Franklin, as in other areas of Nashville, sell primarily to people in cars from the side of the street.

Eric Stuckey, city administrator for the city of Franklin, said that the law was proposed because of the safety risk involved with selling on the street. He said that there have been reports of incidents and near misses involving Contributor vendors being hazards to traffic while standing in the street, although the exact number of incidents is unclear.

“From a common sense standpoint it’s not safe,” Stuckey said. “A safer approach would be to sell on the sidewalk or in parking lots. It’s not as convenient, but we make tradeoffs all the time between safety and convenience, and this seems like a reasonable one.”

Stuckey also said that the new law was not meant to target the homeless community. The law applies to anyone else selling items or collecting money on the street as well. It does not prohibit anyone from selling to pedestrians on the sidewalk or on private property, with permission.

“We’ve heard a variety of different perspectives on the issue, and we’re trying to be respectful,” Stuckey said. “We’re not saying people can’t sell in our community, just not on the street. I think sometimes this is being misconstrued as us telling the vendors to go away. They are not being told to go away. They are more than welcome in our community, and they are welcome to interact with our citizens and guests, just in a safe manner.”

This proposed law follows a similar law in Brentwood, another Nashville suburb. The Contributor took Brentwood to court over the issue with the support of the American Civil Liberties Union, but on Nov. 13 a district judge ruled in favor of Brentwood. The court ruled that the law did not violate the First Amendment because of the safety risk involved in selling on the street.

The court also agreed that there were alternative

Free MCAT prep

By TYLER BISHOP News manager --------------------

Vanderbilt undergraduate students will be eligible to enter a raffle for a free MCAT preparatory course offered through The Princeton Review beginning Monday, Dec. 3.

Representatives from The Princeton Review will be set up outside of Stevenson Center from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday to allow for students to enter the raffle.

Five free courses will be given to the five names that are drawn. The courses have a face value of $2,099 through The Princeton Review.

Students can enter by presenting their student ID at their table outside Stevenson Monday or Tuesday, or by stopping by The Princeton Review office on Elliston Place.

The winners will be announced on Monday, Jan. 7, and must enroll in a course in 2013.

The initiative to bring the free MCAT courses to Vanderbilt was led by Evan Broder, senior and employee of the Nashville branch of The Princeton Review, and Vanderbilt Student Government.

CHRIS PHARE/ THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER

methods The Contributor could use to sell papers in the area.

A May 2011 article on The Contributor’s website regarding Contributor sales in both Brentwood and Franklin states, “Freedom of the press is the right not only to print the news, but also to distribute it. We strongly believe that selling a newspaper on public property is an activity protected by both the U.S. Constitution and the Tennessee State Constitution.”

The article suggested that people concerned by the possible limiting of sales in Brentwood and Franklin could support The Contributor by continuing to buy from vendors and by allowing vendors to sell on private business or church property.

Gene Policinsky, senior vice president and executive director of the First Amendment Center, said that whether a court would see the proposed law in Franklin as violating the First Amendment would depend on two factors — whether the law is the least restrictive way to promote public

VSG hosts Angel Tree Friday

By EMILY TORRES

Senior news reporter -------------------Almost 400 local Nashville kindergartners will be having a happy Christmas this year. Angel Tree, an annual gift drive held at Vanderbilt, gives back to the local Nashville community by working with the Charles Davis Foundation to collect children’s wish lists and distribute them to students and organizations on campus that wish to donate.

The kindergartners will be presented with the gifts at a large celebration held on Friday, Dec. 7. Sign-ups were closed early this year because Vanderbilt students and organizations were eager to adopt and filled the list quickly.

“We have about 400 students coming to the event, and some of these students probably wouldn’t receive gifts otherwise,” said sophomore Adriana Ocon, cochair of Angel Tree. “It’s giving something small, but it means a lot to the kids.”

Both Vanderbilt Concert Choir and the Melodores will perform at the Angel Tree celebration.

Children will get to take pictures with Santa and participate in a craft prior to opening their gifts.

Similar to last year, Angel Tree has secured a partnership with the Office of Traffic and Parking

Alexander silences retirement speculation “I’m running, I’m running hard and I have the support of significant leaders in the Republican Party,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander on Saturday to reporters at a state Republican Party executive committee meeting in Nashville.

The former two-term governor announced that his campaign for a third term in the U.S. Senate will be headed by U.S. Rep. John J. “Jimmy” Duncan Jr. and will include Gov. Bill Haslam; fellow Sen. Bob Corker; the speakers of the state House and Senate and five of the remaining six members of the state’s Republicans delegation in Congress. His announcement was in part an effort to silence speculation that he is planning to retire rather than seek another term in office.

Alexander said establishing a campaign machinery so close to the recently concluded election cycle should show that he is committed to another six-year term.

“And if I do that well, maybe people will think about running in other years,” he said.

“They’re free to run in 2014 if they want to, but anybody who does is going to have a fight on their hands.”

The Tennessee senator also used the

safety and whether the law specifically targets the homeless population.

“The question will rest on whether the court decides there must be a demonstrated need for public safety or whether the concern of public officials is enough,” Policinsky said. “In Brentwood, the court decided to accept the concern of public officials as enough evidence that the law was necessary. In Davidson County, however, lots of people sell The Contributor every day without issues. So it is possible that a court would require evidence that there have been specific safety problems.”

The proposed law was well received by Franklin lawmakers at a meeting on Tuesday. It needs two votes to pass into law; the first will be held on Dec. 11 and the second and final vote will be held sometime in January.

The Hustler reached out to Andrew Krinks, editor of The Contributor for comments regarding the situation in Franklin, but he was unavailable for comment as of press time.

to waive citations in exchange for donations.

This year, however, the office will waive up to $50 off any traffic citation, including handicapped and reserved parking spot violations, if students donate an appropriate present to Angel Tree and indicate their interest in the waived fee. The gift should be a minimum of $25 to qualify for this waiver. One parking citation is waived per student, not per adopted child.

“We try to have a good partnership with VSG, and this is a worthwhile program at the right time of the year,” said Lance Hale, administrative director at the Office of Traffic and Parking. “This is one thing we have been able to support, and it’s good for everybody.”

“We’re so grateful they decided to spread some holiday cheer by working with us again,” said sophomore Sherry Chen, cochair of VSG’s Angel Tree committee. “It’s a great incentive, and I hope we continue our relationship for future years.”

Sophomores Ocon and Chen have been planning this year’s event along with a 13-person committee since early October.

Students who donated are encouraged to celebrate and attend the Angel Tree Holiday Party with the Nashville kindergartners on Friday, Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. in the SLC Ballroom.

By TYLER BISHOP News manager --------------------

opportunity to speak out against Obama’s treatment of the negotiations with Congress about payroll tax cuts that are set to expire at the end of December.

“I’m ready for the president to get off the campaign trail and get in the White House and get a result,” Alexander said. “Right now he’s got the presidential limousine headed toward the fiscal cliff with his foot on the accelerator.”

Alexander said that he and other Republicans would, however, be open to compromise if the president offered concrete plans to limit federal spending.

“My goal as a United States senator is to stop spending money we don’t have in Washington,” Alexander said.

Alexander, who graduated from Vanderbilt in 1962, was first elected to the Senate in 2002. Besides his two terms as Tennessee governor, he has served as U.S. education secretary and as president of the University of Tennessee. He also ran for president twice.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

CHRIS HONIBALL/ THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER

THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER u WWW.INSIDEVANDY.COM

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

3

opinion More than just a dorm One McGillite’s love letter to his place of residence

Something got you peeved? Irked? Honked off? The Rant is your place to anonymously vent your spleen on any issue you want. To get your rant on: tweet @VandyRant, email us at opinion@insidevandy.com, or visit the InsideVandy.com opinion page.

This Rant refers to two opinion columns published in last Thursday’s edition of The Hustler: “Anonymous” penned a sharp and wellargued criticism of the administration’s recent changes to alcohol policies in Greek Life. However, Jesse Golomb’s “Stir the drink, Vanderbilt” marks the latest entry in the never-ending stream of articles that confuses an entire student body with one outdated and increasingly small segment of it. A lot of students, myself included, don’t like the Greek system and don’t go to Greek parties. We don’t sit around in our rooms all night. We hang out with friends, go to off-campus parties, or go into the vibrant city around us. It’s one thing to say “here’s why the new alcohol policy isn’t working,” but quite another to keep assuming that we all want to maintain the status quo of “17th in the nation academically, first in Greek Life” and not to have these numbers in reverse. The student body was not “almost uniformly content” — at least not while I’ve been here — with a social scene that many of us perceive as objectifying girls, promoting excessive ideological conformity, and stifling the intellectual and moral development of students swept up in its tide. The role of the Greek system in perpetuating these trends can’t be ignored. I’m glad that there are people here who enjoy Greek life and wish them only the best, but I also wish that more of them (if The Hustler’s columns are any indication) understand that they are just one faction of a large and diverse campus community. If you want to know why your frustration is neglected, it might have to do with the fact that it’s tough to take a group of people seriously if alcohol consumption at Greek parties is “the one thing — other than a degree — that interests more than 40 percent of us.” Maybe I’m the naive one, but I would hope that this 40 percent of our students have at least a couple additional priorities at a top university that grants access to incredible extracurricular, cultural, academic and recreational opportunities on campus and around the city of Nashville.

F

BENJAMIN RIES is a senior in the College of Arts and Science and president of the Vanderbilt College Democrats. He can be reached at benjamin.a.ries@ vanderbilt.edu.

MOLLY CORN is a sophomore double major in Economics and Women’s and Gender Studies and treasurer of the Vanderbilt Feminists.

She can be reached at molly.e.corn@ vanderbilt.edu.

ERIC SINGLE, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF editor@insidevandy.com

KELLY HALOM

LIFE EDITOR life@insidevandy.com

TYLER BISHOP

SAM MCBRIDE

NEWS MANAGER news@insidevandy.com

NEWS MANAGER news@insidevandy.com

OPINION POLICY The Vanderbilt Hustler opinion page aims to stimulate discussion in the Vanderbilt community. In that spirit, columnists, guest columnists and authors of letters to the editor are expected to provide logical argument to back their views. Unreasonable arguments, arguments in bad faith or arguments in vain between columnists have no place in The Hustler and will not be published. The Hustler welcomes reader viewpoints and offers three methods of expression: letters to the editor, guest columns and feedback on InsideVandy.com.

The views expressed in lead editorials reflect the majority of opinion among The Hustler’s editorial board and are not necessarily representative of any individual member.

Letters must be submitted either in person by the author to the Hustler office or via email to opinion@insidevandy. com. Letters via email must come from a Vanderbilt email address where the identity of the sender is clear. With rare exception, all letters must be received by 1 p.m. on Sunday or Wednesday. The editor reserves the right to edit and condense submissions for length as well as clarity.

Lengthy letters that focus on an issue affecting students may be considered for a guest column at the editor’s discretion.

All submissions become the property of The Hustler and must conform to the legal standards of Vanderbilt Student Communications, of which The Hustler is a division.

The Vanderbilt Hustler (ISSN 0042-2517), the student newspaper of Vanderbilt University, is published every Monday and Thursday during the academic year except during exam periods and vacations. The paper is not printed during summer break.

The Vanderbilt Hustler allocates one issue of the newspaper to each student and is available at various points on campus for free. Additional copies are $.50 each.

The Vanderbilt Hustler is a division of Vanderbilt Student Communications, Inc. Copyright © 2012 Vanderbilt Student Communications.

— Benjamin Ries

A critique of the sorority recruitment process and of women’s Greek life in general

EDITORIAL BOARD

OPINION EDITOR opinion@insidevandy.com

ties for social gatherings imbued with intellectual discussion.

McGillites have also consistently displayed an uncommon willingness to take a stand on issues about which they feel passionate. I recall going to protest the ludicrously absurd “Don’t Say Gay Bill” with a dear friend of mine from the dorm, and active supporters of the current dining workers’ movement hail disproportionately come from McGill. One of my fondest memories is from last spring, when Chancellor Zeppos spoke at a McGill Hour and many of the students civilly asked about the controversy surrounding our investment in the company EmVest in light of scandals involving African Land Grabs. On a campus where I find general apathy to the outside world and the surrounding community to be unfortunately prevalent, I am proud that many people here were willing to confront our most powerful administrator and express their concerns.

In my experiences, I have also overwhelmingly found the people here incredibly accepting and open-minded. At our Coffee Houses, which occur twice a semester and take the form of an extended talent show, the environment is immensely supportive, whether the act consists of a musical performance, a poetry or fiction reading, a karate routine or even a Shakespeare performance that incorporates a rock-paper-scissors contest.

One thing that you will never find at a party at our dorm is any kind of restriction on who can enter (“Which brothers do you know?” serves as a running joke).

Again, I don’t want to excessively praise a single dorm, or even attempt to characterize every member as fitting any particular mold (or as not forming any sort of cliques). Based on my observations, an extreme level of diversity and individualism permeates the dorm, and clashes do arise from this. But learning and understanding arise from these kinds of clashes and that, to me, is what college should be all about.

I’d urge anyone to consider applying to live here or join the McGill Project. If you’re curious, come by sometime for a McGill Hour, attend one of our parties or just visit to see the decorations on the walls of our central staircase. Again and again, I find a general sense of kindness, curiosity and social consciousness displayed by the residents here, and I am proud to call myself a McGillite.

‘Tis the season

vanderbilthustler ANDRÉ ROUILLARD

or the last semester, any regular reader of the The Vanderbilt Hustler might recognize me as a political columnist with a liberal perspective. Now that the 2012 election is over, I thought I’d approach my last column of the semester a little differently. There are many issues (most urgently, the crisis concerning the fiscal cliff) that deserve attention, but instead of launching into another political article, I want to take a step back and express my gratitude towards one facet of the Vanderbilt community.

Vanderbilt has provided me with so much, from financial aid to access to incredible facilities, courses and professors. I will always be indebted and thankful to this wonderful institution.

For a long time, though, I never really connected to this school’s social scene. I have a few reservations about elements of our campus culture, but I don’t intend to criticize anyone here and I’m glad that people pursue whatever makes them feel fulfilled in their private lives. But I did not find the social environment that I was looking for until the second semester of my junior year, when I moved into McGill Hall.

I don’t intend to over-glorify McGill here. Like any dorm or group of students, it has its problems. But I would like to praise it as the highlight of my social experience at Vanderbilt.

Namely, McGill made Vanderbilt work for me. It bridged the gap between my challenging, high-quality courses and what I had earlier found to be an intellectually vacuous social scene.

Political arguments are impossible to avoid here, and I’ve hardly ever had a view go unchallenged. Still, people are always supportive, and McGill feels less like an isolated dorm than a supportive community.

McGill Hours — which are open to the whole campus — present regular opportunities to expand your horizons. Even before I moved in, I attended a few McGill Hours and remember being happily surprised I was at how curious people were about extremely specific subjects that had nothing to do with their majors. In my time here, I’ve been able to listen to lectures and contribute to conversations on topics ranging from the effect of language on gender construction; foreign policy and presidential elections; the meaning of life and themes of racial reconciliation in the directorial films of Clint Eastwood. Our facultyin-residence Doug Fisher and Graduate Program Coordinator Maggie Konich have helped immensely in providing opportuni-

H

ere we go again. Finals are rapidly approaching and we now have to come to terms with our grades. It’s the time of year when you’ll regret the test you failed for shotgunning one too many beers. As the semester comes to a close, we can all look forward to an academic break during which we can occupy our time with something more important. I’m not talking about the holidays; I’m talking about Panhellenic Recruitment, colloquially termed “Sorority Rush.”

Now is the time in which the most trivial things become important, and what you wear really does matter. Now, this column is by no means intentioned to be a derisive denunciation of Greek life, but it is meant to be a critique. First off, I must be up front: I am not a member of any Greek organization. I hold no specific prejudices against sororities or any of their members; in fact, many of my friends are Greek. I did rush during the spring semester of my first year, but chose to drop out of recruitment after the second round because it seemed extremely artificial.

The earliest sororities were founded in the late 1800s, when women in the United States began entering undergraduate colleges. The area of higher education was previously untouched by women, and sorority women had a vested interest in proving the benefits and viability of coeducational studies. These women had a responsibility to prove that women could perform as well, or even better than men in the realm of higher education. Today sororities revolve around social events and philanthropic efforts on college campuses and provide young women on campus with a group of close friends they can call sisters for life.

In case you haven’t already noticed, Greek life is a pretty big deal at Vanderbilt. Princeton Review ranked Vandy Greek life No. 1 in the country last year, and approximately 42 percent of undergraduates are involved in a Greek organization. From a social viewpoint, sororities are often used as an identifier. The typical interaction goes something like this: “Oh do you know so and so? She’s in ___ sorority, and has ___ quality.” Despite any stereotypes associated with a sorority, all of them undoubtedly contain a talented bunch of collegiate women.

Unfortunately, from an outsider’s perspective, Greek life seems to have as many negative aspects as it does positive.

Last year when many of my friends accepted bids, there was an undeniable change in how some of them acted. The most disturbing aspect to me was the behavior exhibited by many girls during Sigma Chi’s Derby Days competition. Girls who were previously friends turned against each other (if only for the week), read each other’s emails and accused other sororities of playing dirty, pitting girls against each one other in a manner that was anything but sisterly.

Another problematic characteristic of Greek life is that it inherently reinforces socioeconomic division among social groups. Vanderbilt itself has an extremely generous financial aid policy that allows talented, motivated students from impoverished families to attend Vanderbilt at a very low cost, sometimes even at absolutely no cost. For many, this is a necessity. This has been key in dismantling Vanderbilt’s former reputation as a white-dominated, elitist, Southern school. Unfortunately, many of the students in question may be unable to participate in a Greek organization because of the high costs associated with it.

Sorority dues are approximately $1,000 per semester and there are other costs associated with joining one, such as the necessity of an expanded wardrobe for philanthropy events and date functions.

Because Vanderbilt offers need-based aid, and Greek organizations do not, a disparity in demographic representation between the student body at large and its Greek life is inevitable.

I understand that the cost of dues is by no means arbitrary, but there might be unexplored solutions. Perhaps there should be fundraising to provide aid to students who couldn’t otherwise afford Greek life; perhaps there’s no solution. But one thing is for sure: As Vanderbilt becomes more diverse and moves away from its good ol’ boy, Southern conservative reputation, Greek life must also evolve and leave some of its traditions behind.

— Molly Corn

Why you should live your life as if you haven’t begun it Be careful not to let your schooling get in the way of your education LAUREN MILLER is junior in the College of Arts and Science, a Political Science major and a member of the Vanderbilt Dance Team. She can be reached at lauren.m.miller@ vanderbilt.edu.

I

f you were to look down at the world, before your life had even begun and were talking to your fellow not-yet-existent friends, what would you imagine for your life? Would you say, “Man, if I were alive, I would go to school, be average, go to college, graduate, get a good job, be middle class and have some fun along the way?” Although there is nothing wrong with this, chances are that the answer would be “no.” Most of us, if given the chance to have this detached perspective of our own circumstances, would envision them with the daydream kind of talk we usually do when saying what we would do if we were to win the lottery, make it big, or any of the many thoughts we’ve entertained ourselves with over the years. I, for one, wouldn’t sit up there and wish to be mediocre. I would look down at our world and think one thing: I want to rock that place. I want to live so passionately, so fearlessly that an adjective would have to be created to describe the kind of life I lived when my time is up. I, personally, would want to be remembered for the impact I left behind, for having ridiculously big dreams and then fulfilling them.

That is what I would say.

However, as I examine my day-to-day life, along with those of my teammates and peers, I cannot help but notice that the vast majority of us seem to be increasingly more and more satisfied with the thought of mediocre lives after college. Idealism seems to fade as the stresses of scholastic reality sets in, and even though it is said that mediocrity is the enemy of greatness, many seem to happily accept mediocrity because wholeheartedly pursuing their passions seems too difficult. Is this simply because some people simply dream to different scales, or is it that we simply don’t view our ultimate dreams as possible any longer? If you are to take a good, hard look at your daily life, can

you honestly say that you are making your dreams a priority, or are you so busy jumping through the hoops to get to the future that you are forgetting to utilize the present, the most powerful tool you have?

As students at a rigorous college, life right now is probably more confusing that it has ever been. With the grind of tests, lack of sleep and constant planning of our futures, the most logical thing for us to do is to fulfill the requirements set up for us, do what it takes to get our degrees, and then start helping the world.

Many of us get so caught up in our day-to-day stresses, assignments and deadlines that we often forget to see the larger picture of our lives. Especially during this time of the semester, it is far too easy to become consumed with getting to the day where we walk across that stage, diploma in hand, that we lose sight of why we chose to work so hard in the first place. We are aimed at getting the grades, but in doing so, are we neglecting pursuing our passions?

As we go through this next week, I would like to challenge us all to truly seize the moment and to not give up on our perhaps far-fetched, but possible, dreams. I challenge you to imagine your life as if it hadn’t begun yet, and to go after that original, exciting vision, carving out time each and every day to reach those goals.

While college is a great tool for future success, don’t forget that in the end, you should not let it get in the way of your life. While in the craze of these four years you may lose your Vandy card for the millionth time, some memories of exactly what happened last night or even your sanity (temporarily) during dead week, there is one thing crucial to you reaching your true potential that you must make sure to hold onto through it all: yourself.

— Lauren Miller

THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER u WWW.INSIDEVANDY.COM

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

#WHATSHOULDWECALL2012 life Under the radar Movies and albums you (probably) missed this year

JAN. 17

Beyonce gives birth

Sh*t Sorority Girls Say

Four months after revealing her pregnancy on the MTV Video Music Awards, Beyonce gave birth to the world’s most anticipated baby of 2012, Blue Ivy Carter. Though Beyonce’s pregnancy has kept her out of the spotlight, she is set to return in diva-like fashion as the halftime act for Super Bowl XLVI next February.

Life reporter --------------------

MOVIES ‘Samsara’ Ron Fricke’s nonverbal documentary observes spectacles of natural and human wonder in 25 countries across five continents. Endlessly ambiguous, yet rich with detail and recurring visual motifs, “Samsara” pries into the consciousness of each individual viewer, posing questions about identity and the human condition. Are our own lives as monotonous as the endless stream of products traveling down a factory assembly line? This movie has certainly produced divergent reactions, as people respond to the imagery in their own distinct ways.

‘Monsieur Lazhar’ The Canadian nominee for the Best Foreign Film Oscar at last year’s ceremony (though it was not released in the U.S. until this summer) sets a moving drama in the vividly captured setting of modern Montreal amidst immigrant influxes and cultural shifts. Algerian Bachir Lazhar (Mohamed Said Fellag) takes a job replacing an elementary school teacher who committed suicide. As the kindly Lazhar tries to overcome cultural gaps to bring the traumatized students the support they need, the films hints that he is also using his teaching position to overcome his own traumas. On the surface, the story might appear turgid. On a deeper level, however, “Monsieur Lazhar” is riddled with cultural, social and human conflict — most centrally, the human desire to reach out and help one another in an environment of repressive professional codes.

‘Sound of My Voice’ A cult movie about the making of a movie about a cult, “Sound of My Voice” is an immersive exploration of the search for answers in the age of unlimited information. Shot under $500,000, the primitive production finds a young couple (Nicole Vicius and Christopher Denham) infiltrating a mysterious society to expose its secrets. To their shock, the cult’s leader, Maggie (Brit Marling), becomes increasingly powerful and convincing in her wild claims, humbling the protagonists and causing them to question their own assumptions. “Sound of My Voice” plays its cards just right, creating several sequences of incredible suspense and building a mounting sense of dread and curiosity. Like 2004’s “Primer,” “Sound of My Voice” serves as a reminder that tight directing and a smart story — not just stars and a big budget — can create engaging and thought-provoking entertainment.

‘Beasts of the Southern Wild’ This feverishly acted fantasy-drama is one of the most emotive and deeply human films in recent memory. The story follows a six-year-old girl named Hushpuppy (Quvenzhane Wallis) as she and her father endure and storm and its aftermath on a marshy island outside New Orleans. Meanwhile, strange monsters from the melting ice caps approach as global warming threatens to drown out the whole community.

“Beasts of the Southern Wild” approaches its grim subject matter with whimsy and undeniable spirit. A brilliant and wholly unique piece of art emerges. Wallis carries the film with a magnificent, inspirational performance as the personification of her community, persevering in the most unlikely and oppressive of circumstances.

Few things have blanketed Vanderbilt popular culture like “Sh*t Sorority Girls Say.” Thanks to Shane Stever, Vanderbilt students could see everything they loved, hated and just didn’t understand about stereotypical sorority girls in 3 minutes and 55 seconds. While it was an obvious instant hit around campus, its viral popularity has made it one of the most famous “Sh*t _____ Says” videos, with well over 3 million YouTube views alone. And it all started in Rand.

FEB. 24

FEBRUARY

MAY 26

#whatshouldwecallme launches

Three years after nearly beating her senseless in a car, Chris Brown popped up on the remix to Rihanna’s “Birthday Cake,” and naturally, a firestorm ensued.

While Rihanna was heavily criticized for including Brown, the singer defended her actions, saying it’s “just music.” As 2012 progressed, “just music” turned into “just romance” and “just back together.” Brown’s breakup with then-girlfriend Karrueche Tran all but sealed the deal, letting the world know Rihanna and Chris Brown were back together. With their latest collaboration “Nobody’s Business,” Rihanna and Chris are ready to take over airwaves again.

More than your best friend or your parents, #whatshouldwecallme understands your life. Launched in February, this Tumblr page allows users to submit animated GIFs with clever captions to show how we all really feel about a given situation, to hilarious effect.

Like any good trend, #whatshouldwecallme has inspired countless spinoffs, ranging from #whatshouldbetchescallme to, yes, #whatshouldvandycallme.

‘Bath Salts’ enters the popular lexicon

Rihanna and Chris Brown, together again

By BEN RIES

America’s drug of choice in 2012 was certainly “bath salts”. Thanks to Rudy Eugene and his cannibal attack in Miami, the street drug came to national attention. Unlike their namesake, they are not known to calm anyone down or soothe anyone’s nerves. On the contrary, these “bath salts” have effects similar to cocaine — just the opposite of a soothing remedy.

Sadly, “bath salts” have been a controversial drug for a number of years and the number of purported cases looks to reach an all-time high by the end of 2012.

Still, though, bath salts became a running joke for months and an excuse for any behavior.

VERNON BRYANT / DALLAS MORNING NEWS / MCT

JUNE 23

JULY 27

‘Call Me Maybe’ reaches No. 1

Summer Olympics

She threw a wish in a well — and it gave her a gold mine. Carly Rae Jepsen’s rise to cult status began June 23, when her single “Call Me Maybe” spent the first of nine weeks at No. 1 on Billboard. The single became a hit in virtually every country in the world and the Harvard Baseball Team created an infamous dance that someone replicates at every party. Celebrities, including Kelly Clarkson and Justin Bieber, tackled covers of the song. No matter Jepsen’s success in the future, you’ll be hearing “Call Me Maybe” for years to come.

Nothing quite has the power to turn a nobody into a household name overnight like the Olympics — just ask Ryan Lochte. Lochte initially attracted much interest as many speculated he would succeed Michael Phelps as the main U.S. swimming attraction. Unfortunately, Lochte’s performance failed to convince. His fame, however, reached new heights thanks to his reputation outside the swimming pool. Gabby Douglas, on the other hand, rose from virtual obscurity to capture hearts around the nation following her triumph as the first African-American All-Around Gymnastics gold medalist in Olympic history. Though Douglas and many Olympic stars will fall into limbo until 2016, the 2012 Olympics will always be remembered as historic.

SUMMER

Return of superhero sequels

“The Avengers,” “The Dark Knight Rises,” “Spider-Man” — all major box-office superhero franchises. All 2012. “The Avengers” broke box-office records left and right and became a critical favorite — the best of both words. “The Dark Knight Rises” served as more than a satisfying conclusion to Christopher Nolan’s Batman installments. “Spider-Man” starred Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, so everyone had something to look at during the movie.

Superhero films certainly hit a high in 2012 like never before. At present, 2013’s biggest superhero film looks to be “Man of Steel,” the latest in the Superman franchise. Only time will tell it if it is worthy of joining these 2012 classics.

MARVEL / MCT

JULY 28

‘Gangnam Style’ hits Reddit

Admit it, you’ve tried it. We’ve all seen plenty of YouTube dance crazes.

First, there was “Single Ladies.” Then, there was “Teach Me How to Dougie.”

That said, no craze was a worldwide phenomenon quite like “Gangnam Style.”

Psy, the artist behind “Gangnam Style,” released the single in his native South Korea for what he hoped would be a hit. Eight-hundred-fifty million YouTube views, 4 million downloads and a worldwide No. 1 hit single later, “Gangnam Style” has become one of the most popular records in recent memory, and many stars, including Britney Spears, Madonna and MC Hammer, have tried their hand at mastering the dance. Although “Gangnam Style” almost certainly will be the highlight of Psy’s career, he undoubtedly leaves 2013’s dance craze some large shoes to fill.

ALBUMS

YOUTUBE SCREENSHOT

AUG. 8

Honey Boo Boo

It’s everything you love and hate about America compacted into one 30-minute television program. In August, America was introduced to Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson, a beauty pageant contestant of “Toddlers and Tiaras” fame. While the show, officially titled “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,” has been called “offensive” and accused of exploiting the Thompson family, America can’t help but see what each week’s episode will bring. TLC has renewed the show for at least two more seasons, so you can be sure Honey Boo Boo will be around for 2013, for better or worse.

NOV. 10

Taylor Swift breaks a million … again

If you thought Taylor Swift’s reign was coming to a close … think again. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” broke the record for the fastest-selling song by a female artist and her latest album, “Red,” sold 1.21 million in its first week. If anything, Swiftmania is still on the rise. As Swift’s latest release offers more pop-leaning songs like “I Knew You Were Trouble,” expect popular radio, fraternity parties and award shows to embrace her even more in 2013. Our prediction? Swiftmania hasn’t even reached its peak.

NOV. 16

DEC. 25

‘Breaking Dawn, Part 2’ ends ‘Twilight’ saga

Highly anticipated ‘Les Miserables’ hits theaters

Since 2008, it was the day Twihards everywhere both hoped and feared. “Breaking Dawn, Part 2” meant, to the dismay of millions of fans, the last midnight screening, the last cries of “he’s so hot” any time Taylor Lautner was on screen and the last “Twilight” film ever (we hope). “Twilight” did have an impressive run, making major Hollywood stars out of leads Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner and shattering boxoffice records around the world. (“New Moon” still holds the record for highest opening-day sales.) All eyes will be on what the “Twilight” cast does in 2013, but just as with “Lord of the Rings” in 2003 and “Harry Potter” in 2011, “Twilight” fans all around the world will forever remember 2012.

Forget Christmas. Dec. 25, 2012 will be remembered as the day “Les Miserables” hit theaters. The film adaptation of the major Broadway hit has all the necessary ingredients to be a smash success: a major fan base, Christmas-time release and, oh yeah, an A+ list cast. Anne Hathaway, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Helena Bonham Carter are all in supporting roles. With Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe making returns to the screen as Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert, respectively, “Les Miserables” is destined for cinematic glory. Reviews of the film are already glowing, and many anticipate the movie will be a major contender for Oscar-season. Even if the film doesn’t pick up every critical accolade, it will most certainly be a commercial success and remembered for years to come. Be honest: What else would you want for Christmas?

YOUTUBE SCREENSHOT

Lower Dens — ‘Nootropics’ The Baltimore-based group’s sophomore album dives straight into an eerie, late-night groove and spends the remaining duration digging deeper and deeper within it for richly rewarding results. Withdrawn, ghostly synths and percussion carve out a sublime atmosphere that puts singer Jana Hunter in the forefront. Her strong vocals are often indecipherable but always powerful, especially on the gorgeous “Nova Anthem” and the riveting centerpiece “Brains.”

“Nootropics” glides by the first time you hear it, but a myriad of great tunes is buried within its focused, sonic palette.

Grouper — ‘Violet Replacement’ Ambient artist Liz Harris’s solo act returns for her most ambitious and difficult work to date. Harris has spent her career as Grouper, drawing alternately warm and menacing textures out of white noise, a style that made her a perfect fit for a concert in April at the Guggenheim Museum. “Violet Replacement” consists of two cavernous pieces — one 37 minutes long, the other over 50 — that build to create haunting and enrapturing environments. It’s a beautiful album, but if the idea of two massive songs sounds intimidating, check out her more track-focused, equally brilliant 2008 record “Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill.”

Punch Brothers — ‘Who’s Feeling Young Now?’ This New York City-based bluegrass group has churned out one terrific album after another since they formed in 2006, but “Who’s Feeling Young Now?” is their first release to completely transcend the genre. Several tracks (the upbeat “This Girl,” “Don’t Get Married Without Me”) delve into familiar territory with satisfying results, while others venture into new, more edgy ground. Opener “Movement and Location” carries a hint of menace while an instrumental cover of Radiohead’s “Kid A” adds a shade of abstraction. Frontman Chris Thile steals the show with wildly varied vocal performances that carry the album through its many shifts in tone.

Chromatics — ‘Kill for Love’ Chromatics’ second album with its current lineup expands on the sparse electronic palate of 2007’s “Night Drive” to deliver ninety minutes of dreamy mood music. Opening with a hazy reworking of Neil Young’s “Hey Hey, My My” (titled “Into the Black” here), “Kill for Love” starts with a series of knockout pop tunes in the style of Italian disco before settling into splintered ambience and sustained passages of near silence. “Kill for Love” is full of great moments, but the sum of its accumulated parts is the real reward. By the time the album drifts through the 14-minute closing instrumental “No Escape,” the overall effect is deeply cathartic.

JAN. 7

YOUTUBE SCREENSHOT

DAVID M. WARREN/PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER/MCT

In case you were trapped under a rock this year, we at The Hustler present a refresher course on all things 2012, from viral videos to celebrity gossip. By Trevor Anderson, life reporter

BRYAN MITCHELL/DETROIT FREE PRESS/MCT

4

THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER u WWW.INSIDEVANDY.COM

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

5

6

THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER u WWW.INSIDEVANDY.COM

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

sports

COACH SPEAK “The officials probably officiated better than either team played.”

- Men’s basketball head coach Kevin Stallings after Saturday’s 62-52 loss to Villanova

He’s not going anywhere CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND ROUNDUP

By GEORGE BARCLAY Assitant sports editor

SEC: ALABAMA HANGS ON IN INSTANT CLASSIC The defending national champions rallied from an 11-point deficit to defeat No. 3 Georgia for the SEC Championship. With the victory, Alabama advances to the BCS National Championship Game against top-ranked Notre Dame. Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray kept the Crimson Tide defense on its heels for much of the game, throwing for 265 passing yards and a touchdown. On the game’s final play, Murray’s desperation throw to the end zone came up just five yards short of sending Georgia to play for the national championship. The Crimson Tide dominated in the trenches, racking up 350 yards on the ground on 51 rushing attempts.

PAC-12: STANFORD STOPS UP UCLA On the West Coast, No. 8 Stanford and No. 16 UCLA were engaged in a slugfest of their own, with the Cardinal prevailing 27-24 to earn a trip to the Rose Bowl. Freshman Kevin Hogan completed 16 of 22 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown to defeat the Bruins. In addition to showcasing his potential as a pocket passer, Hogan also rushed for 47 yards and a touchdown. For the Bruins, senior running back Jonathan Franklin stole the show with 194 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Overall, Saturday’s Pac-12 Championship game represents a trend in a conference that has begun to develop stronger defenses within the last couple of seasons.

BIG 12: KANSAS STATE TAKES CARE OF BUSINESS Despite the SEC and Pac-12 title games coming down to the wire, the Big 12 Championship was hardly in doubt on Saturday, with No. 6 Kansas State defeating No. 18 Texas 42-24. Quarterback Collin Klein threw for 184 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns to further his case in this year’s Heisman Trophy campaign. Running back John Hubert also rushed for three touchdowns of his own. Longhorns quarterback Case McCoy threw for 314 yards and two touchdowns but also threw two interceptions. Saturday’s loss marks the fifth straight defeat of Texas by Kansas State.

BIG TEN: WISCONSIN HANGS 70 ON HUSKERS The Wisconsin Badgers steamrolled the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Indianapolis, 70-31. Senior running back Montee Ball was the difference-maker for the Badgers, rushing for 202 yards and three touchdowns. Junior running back James White also had a big game for Wisconsin out of the backfield, finishing with 109 yards and four rushing touchdowns. While the explosive Badger running game was in full effect, the Cornhuskers were plagued by turnovers and were unable to capitalize on 477 yards of total offense. Quarterback Taylor Martinez threw for 184 yards and two interceptions, one of which was run back for a touchdown. Saturday’s victory gives Wisconsin its third straight Big Ten Championship and a trip to the Rose Bowl, where it will take on Stanford.

Franklin not afraid to shake up Coaches’ Poll

By ERIC SINGLE Editor-in-chief

The USA Today Top 25 Coaches’ Poll is widely panned for the voting population it relies on — namely, football coaches who are too busy leading their own team to watch anyone else’s — but that doesn’t mean the ballots can’t spark an entertaining conversation or two.

James Franklin (or whoever the Vanderbilt head coach assigns to fill out his ballot) stepped squarely into the middle of the fray on Sunday by putting Alabama, Georgia and Florida ahead of undefeated Notre Dame, who will take on Alabama in the national championship game ranked No. 1 in the BCS. Franklin’s ballot also included six SEC teams in the top eight and ranked Vanderbilt 16th in the country, just one spot behind Northwestern. The Commodores ended up falling just outside the Top 25, at No. 27.

One other coach among the voters shared Franklin’s high opinion of Vanderbilt: Middle Tennessee’s Rick Stockstill also put Vanderbilt 16th.

JAMES FRANKLIN’S FINAL TOP 25 BALLOT: 1. Alabama 2. Georgia 3. Florida 4. Notre Dame 5. LSU 6. Oregon 7. Texas A&M 8. South Carolina 9. Kansas State 10. Florida State 11. Oklahoma 12. Stanford 13. Clemson 14. Boise State 15. Northwestern 16. Vanderbilt 17. Nebraska 18. Oregon State 19. Louisville 20. UCLA 21. Mississippi State 22. Michigan 23. Northern Illinois 24. Utah State 25. Cincinnati

Vanderbilt locked in James Franklin (and sent a message to potential suitors) by re-upping on his contract extension ZAC HARDY / THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER

By GEORGE BARCLAY Assistant sports editor

Fifty minutes before his appearance at a ceremony celebrating Vanderbilt’s selection to the Music City Bowl, head football coach James Franklin had some news of his own on Sunday night. Seated next to Vice Chancellor of Athletics David Williams at a press conference announcing his new long-term contract to remain Vanderbilt’s head coach, Franklin discussed his future and his program’s future with confidence.

In his opening remarks, Franklin immediately deflected the attention from himself and focused on his players.

“This really is about our kids and our players,” he said. “I made a promise to them and we made a promise to them as a staff that they could come to Vanderbilt and chase all their dreams, their wildest dreams at the highest level.”

“We’re really happy to have Coach Franklin re-signed to another contract,” Williams said.

While reports had circulated about Franklin being pursued by other institutions around the conference and the country, the second-year head coach, in trademark fashion, made a point to focus solely on Vanderbilt and his time in Nashville.

“My focus is on Vanderbilt,” Franklin said.

“Completely on Vanderbilt. (It) always has been.

I’ve had no contact with any other schools, administrators or anything like that.”

As for the amount of pay and length of Franklin’s contract, Vice Chancellor Williams chose to

remain general and not enter into specifics.

“We don’t talk about numbers, we don’t talk about length of contract, we don’t talk about salaries,” said Williams. “This really wasn’t about putting more money in James’ pocket. I think James and his family are happy with what we’re doing. This was really about, as James said, about the kids and the program.”

Now that Franklin will remain in Nashville for the foreseeable future, Franklin and Williams have set their sights on upgrading all aspects of the program in order to remain competitive in the SEC. “We’re gonna take some steps and do some research,” said Franklin. “My goal and our goal is to be competitive to our peer institutions. I think that’s very, very important that we understand that. We want to be the best of our peer institutions. So being able to do some studying, do some research and things like that not only in McGugin, but definitely in the football stadium as well.”

Two areas of focus mentioned in particular

by Williams and Franklin were the team’s weight training facilities and the game day atmosphere.

“We don’t have the facilities in our training room to be a first-class program,” Williams said.

“We know we still have a long way to go to make the game day atmosphere better.”

With Franklin at the front, the Commodores can continue to focus on recruiting and building up their program in the increasingly competitive SEC East. If there was a salient message to Vanderbilt fans on Sunday evening, it was this: James Franklin and the football team he leads intend to stay relevant in Nashville for a long time.

Bowl Reactions Chancellor Nicholas Zeppos: “We’re still climbing up the mountain. The air is gonna get thinner, but we’re climbing up the mountain. We’ll do it with oxygen, and if we don’t have oxygen, we’ll keep going up the mountain. And when we get to the top of the mountain, we’re going to look down, and we’re going to say, ‘We made it to the top of the mountain.’ And then as I said, we’re gonna go to the moon.”

Redshirt senior quarterback Jordan Rodgers: “I was kind of counting down the days that I’m going to be here in Nashville, so now I’m going to be here a couple more.”

Senior running back Zac Stacy: “It’s kind of a good thing, but it’s bittersweet as well, just being able to finish off your career here in Nashville. It’s just the perfect combination. Speaking for the senior class, we’ve been through a lot.”

Redshirt senior linebacker Archibald Barnes: “No disappointment at all — we’re in a bowl game. We’re in no position to complain about what bowl we go to. I think the whole team’s just excited about what bowl game we’re going to.”

Villanova tops Vanderbilt in matchup of equals Outscored inside and outgunned down the stretch, the Commodores stumbled at home, 62-52

By ERIC SINGLE Editor-in-chief

In the interview room after Vanderbilt’s 62-52 loss to Villanova on Saturday, Wildcats head coach Jay Wright crossed paths with Rod Odom and Kedren Johnson as his press conference ended and theirs began. Wright shook hands with the two most experienced leaders on Vanderbilt’s young basketball team and offered a few words of encouragement.

“You guys are just like us,” Wright said. “Keep playing together, you’re going to be good. You guys are going to be good.”

Indeed, many things about Saturday afternoon gave the game a feeling of kindred spirits crossing paths. Both teams were readjusting expectations after suffering three-game losing streaks in the first three weeks of the college basketball season, and with just three games between them of 80 points or more, both were looking for improvement on offense.

Ultimately, the shots stopped falling for Vanderbilt first, as Villanova took over inside in the second half to pull away on the strength of 16 points from senior forward Mouphtao Yarou.

“He was really physical inside, and he knocked down a lot of open jumpers and made his free throws, so that was big for them down the stretch,” Odom said of Yarou, who led the Wildcats in scoring. Odom finished with 14 points for the Commodores, but the junior forward needed 13 shots to get there, and he grabbed just two rebounds in 31 minutes of playing time.

In all, Villanova outscored the Commodores 20-12 in the paint, as forward JayVaughn Pinkston came off the bench to contribute a crucial 13 points and eight rebounds.

“We had some guys that didn’t have good days, and we don’t have enough depth right now to overcome that, to take somebody that’s not

MURPHY BYRNE / THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER

Kedran Johnson (2) and Villanova’s Achraf Yacoubou scramble for the ball during Vanderbilt’s game against Villanova on Dec. 1. The Commodores lost to the Wildcats 62-52. playing well and stick them on the bench and play someone else,” said Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings.

Josh Henderson started at center for the Commodores for the third straight game but played only 11 minutes, including just two minutes in the second half when Yarou and Pinkston took over.

Held at arm’s length throughout most of the second half, the Commodores tried to claw back into the game with outside shooting but couldn’t find the stroke that kept them level in the opening minutes as the two teams traded baskets and productive offensive possessions.

“We didn’t run very crisp offense, and when we did run crisp offense, we missed quite a few open looks that we certainly could’ve made,” Stallings said.

A crucial exchange past the midpoint of the second half buried the Commodores’’ chances for good. With just over seven minutes to go in the game, Vanderbilt cut the Wildcats’ lead to two on a pair of Shelby Moats free throws but

gave up a layup on the next possession. At the other end of the court, Johnson drove into the lane but lost his balance and turned the ball over, and Villanova capitalized in transition with another quick layup to bring the lead right back out to six.

“When you play a team like this on the road, they’re not going to beat themselves,” Wright said. “You’re gonna have to do it. They’re not going to go away, and that’s why this is a very good win.”

Freshman forward Kevin Bright posted his first career double-double in the loss, finishing with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

“Kevin’s a competitive kid, and I continue to be impressed with his competitive nature and how hard he plays,” Stallings said. “He’s leading us in rebounding by a lot, he’s leading us in defensive rebounding by a way lot—he’s a good player. He makes shots, he’s tough. I wish we had more guys that were getting the things done that he’s getting done, because he’s doing a nice job for us, he really is.”

THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER u WWW.INSIDEVANDY.COM

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

7

8

THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER u WWW.INSIDEVANDY.COM

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

backpage TODAY'S CROSSWORD

TODAY'S SUDOKU

Answers to last Thursday’s puzzle

Answers to last Thursday’s puzzle

CHRIS HONIBALL / THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER

Members of hip-hop dance group VIBE perform during their winter show, iDance: VIBE Dance Show 2012 in the SLC on Saturday. The show featured guest performances by Momentum Dance Group, Spoken Word and the Melodores.